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Chapter 62—Exercise and Air
In the creation of man the Lord designed that he should be active
and useful. Yet many live in this world as useless machines, as
though they hardly existed. They brighten the path of none, they are
a blessing to none. They live only to burden others. So far as their
influence on the side of right is concerned, they are mere ciphers;
but they tell with weight upon the wrong side. Search the lives
of such closely, and scarcely an act of disinterested benevolence
can be found. When they die, their memory dies with them. Their
names soon perish; for they cannot live, even in the affections of
their friends, by means of true goodness and virtuous acts. With
such persons life has been a mistake. They have not been faithful
stewards. They have forgotten that their Creator has claims upon
them and that He designs them to be active in doing good and in
blessing others with their influence. Selfish interests attract the mind
and lead to forgetfulness of God and of the purpose of their Creator.
All who profess to be followers of Jesus should feel that a duty
rests upon them to preserve their bodies in the best condition of
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health, that their minds may be clear to comprehend heavenly things.
The mind needs to be controlled, for it has a most powerful influence
upon the health. The imagination often misleads, and when indulged,
brings severe forms of disease upon the afflicted. Many die of
diseases which are mostly imaginary. I am acquainted with several
who have brought upon themselves actual disease by the influence
of the imagination.
One sister was carried by her husband from chair to bed, and
from room to room, because she thought that she was too feeble to
walk. But as the case was afterward presented to me, she could have
walked as well as myself if she had thought so. Had an accident
occurred,—had the house taken fire, or one of her children been in
imminent danger of losing life by a fall,—this woman would have
been aroused by the force of circumstances, and would have walked
quite readily and briskly. She could walk, so far as physical strength
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